Preparation of surface-functionalized particles and their interaction with immune cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H03827
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90120:Biomaterials-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Science
• Principal Investigator: KIKUCHI Akihiko 東京理科大学, 先進工学部マテリアル創成工学科, 教授 (40266820)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 久保 允人 東京理科大学, 研究推進機構生命医科学研究所, 教授 (40277281) ; 小松 周平 東京理科大学, 先進工学部マテリアル創成工学科, 助教 (60843844)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 温度応答性 / コアーコロナ型微粒子 / 表面物性 / 微粒子形状

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to clarify the interaction between macrophages, which are involved in early immunity, and temperature-responsive nanoparticles with different shapes (spheres or rods), hydrophilic/hydrophobic surfaces, and the presence or absence of specific ligands. Regardless of surface properties, rod-shaped nanoparticles inhibited uptake into macrophages. On the other hand, it was revealed that for spherical microparticles, the more hydrophobic the surface, the greater the uptake into cells. Because macrophages have mannose receptors, it was elucidated that introducing mannose to the outermost surface of particles resulted in the uptake of much more nanoparticles than spherical nanoparticles with hydrophobic surfaces. The results obtained from this study are considered to be useful for selective drug delivery to macrophages.

Free Research Field

バイオマテリアル

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、温度刺激という単純な物理刺激を用いることで、微粒子の形状や表面物性を制御しうる材料設計を行なった。初期免疫を司どるマクロファージと微粒子との相互作用を、物理刺激の制御のみでコントロールできる可能性を示した本研究成果は、マクロファージへの選択的薬物送達の可能性を見出しただけでなく、用いる薬物によってはマクロファージの生物活性を制御しうる可能性があることから、がん免疫を改善しうる可能性があり、学術的にも社会的にも意義のある成果であると考えられる。